- The home improvement license starts at $3,000 and covers residential remodeling up to $24,999, only in participating counties. A contractor license is needed at $25,000 and up.
- The home improvement application asks for experience doing remodeling work. No set number of years is stated.
- A $10,000 surety bond, or another accepted form of financial responsibility such as an irrevocable letter of credit.
- Renews for $200, with a 3-month late window at $10 per month. After that you must reapply as new.
Do you need a state license in Tennessee?
Tennessee licenses some handyman work at the state level and leaves the rest alone. Which side of that line a job falls on decides whether you need the state license.
The home improvement license starts at $3,000 and covers residential remodeling up to $24,999, only in participating counties. A contractor license is needed at $25,000 and up.
Only Bradley, Davidson, Hamilton, Haywood, Knox, Marion, Robertson, Rutherford and Shelby counties currently require the home improvement license. You also need a business tax license for each city or county where you work.
Tennessee license types for handyman work
Tennessee splits the work into 2 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Home Improvement | Repair, replacement, remodeling, alterations or additions to homes, including driveways, pools, porches, garages, fences, roofing and painting, from $3,000 to $24,999 |
| Contractor (BC-A) | Residential projects of $25,000 or more |
Steps to get licensed in Tennessee
- Check whether your county requires the home improvement license and whether your jobs fall in the $3,000 to $24,999 range.
- Register your business entity if you are not a sole owner.
- Get general liability insurance and workers comp or an exemption.
- Buy a $10,000 surety bond or arrange an accepted alternative.
- Apply online through the state portal with photo ID and pay the $250 fee.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The home improvement application asks for experience doing remodeling work. No set number of years is stated.
The license to apply for. Home Improvement license (in participating counties).
Tennessee handyman exams
Trade exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Tennessee
The board lists 3 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Home improvement initial application | $250 |
| Home improvement renewal | $200 |
| Late renewal penalty | $10 per month, up to 3 months |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. General liability and workers comp (or an exemption) are required for a home improvement license. The board's minimum general liability for home improvement is $100,000.
Bond. A $10,000 surety bond, or another accepted form of financial responsibility such as an irrevocable letter of credit.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Renews for $200, with a 3-month late window at $10 per month. After that you must reapply as new.
Reciprocity. Not available. The trade exam waiver cannot be used for home improvement licenses.
Good to know in Tennessee
- If you operate as a corporation, LLC or partnership, register it with the state first.
- Electrical and plumbing work have separate limited licenses (LLE and LLP) from the same board.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for a handyman near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, Board for Licensing Contractors and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how handyman businesses run on Koira.